Yarn-feeding mechanism for knitting-machines.



vIE. E. RANDALL. YARN'FEEDING MEcHANIsM FOR KNITTING MACHINEs.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, 1914.

1,168,549. Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

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'I/ I I I I I I I I I I 'I I I I I I I I I I I WiTnesses. InvenIor. Edison E.RandcI|I,

I by 'md W I'IWM THE COLUMIIIA PLANOGRAFH cn., WASHING'I'ON. D. c.

E. E. RANDALL.

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLlcATIoN HLED Aue.2o, 1914.

1,168,54;9. Patented Jan. 18, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'ao I w 2| 'G I 19 18 F'lgfa. 15

as 3a c,1 ze 34% 25 VVinesses. Inventor;

QnQmw. Edison E..Rc1ndu-H,

THB CO'LUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. E. RANDALL. YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.20, 1914.

3 SHEETS-fSHEET 3.

THE CDLUMBIA LANOGRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

TJ'NTTED STATES PATENT FTFTEL EDISON E. RANDALL, OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 PARAMOUNT KNITTING i i COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

YARN-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 18, 1916..

Application filed August 20, 1914. Serial No. 857,759.

To all 'w/wm it m czy concern Be it known that I, EDIsoN E. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kankakee, county of Kankakee, State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Yarn-Feeding Mechanism for Knitting- Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to yarn feeding mechanism for knitting machines in which a plurality of yarns are fed to the needles and in which one or more of the yarns so fed are supplied at and during required intervals as for example in re-inforcing different sections of the fabric being knitted. The yarn or yarns supplied in the regular' course of knitting are herein referred to as main77 yarn and the yarn or yarns supplied at intervals are referred' to as the reinforcing yarns. Various means have been employed for causing the reinforcing yarns to come into action and be fed along with the main yarn at the required times and the invention in its broader aspect is indepenoent of any such particular form of mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide a stop-motion mechanism actuated upon the failure of the reinforcing` yarn to be brought in and fed along with the main yarn when required and also actuated upon the breakage of the reinforcing yarn while being fed in.

This and other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The drawings show so much of an ordinary type of yarn feeding mechanism and stop motion mechanism together with the upper portion of the frame work of knitting machine as is necessary to an understanding of a preferred form of the present invention shown in connection therewith.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper end of the framework of a knitting machine, with the supported yarn feeding mechanism and stop motion mechanism; and Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the upper portion of the yarn-feeding mechanism, both figures showing a preferred form of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the conforms of yarn-feeding mechanism in which there is a main yarn-feeding mechanism and a reinforcing yarn-feeding mechanism. Such mechanisms are common and the reinforcing yarn is brought into action andfed along with the main yarn in various ways. In some cases the reinforcing yarn is brought alongside of the main yarn into frictional engagement therewith so as to be drawn frictionally by the main yarn to the neeclles. In some cases the reinforcing yarn is wrapped or wound by suitable devices about the main yarn so as to insure its engagement therewith and its being fed along therewith to the needles. In other cases the reinforcing yarn is not only wrapped about but'is tied or knotted to the main yarn when brought into action so as to be fed along therewith. I

The present invention is illustrated in connection with the latter type of yarnfeeding mechanism,` such for example as is shown in the patent to Mayo, No. 726,229, granted April 21, 1903 and to which reference may be made for a more detailed disclosure of this type of yarn-feeding mechanism. Yarn-feeding mechanisms have also been provided with stop motion mechanisms so that upon the breakage of the yarn the machine would be stopped. The present invention makes use of any suitable type of stop `motion mechanism and there is herein shown a stop motion mechanism of the type illustrated in the patents to Wilcomb, No. 698,089, No. 698.091, and No. 698,090, granted April 22, 1902.

The knitting machine as already stated is not illustrated but the post 1 extends upi wardly from the framework thereof and has rigidly secured thereto and supported thereabove the Vertical supporting post 2 on which both the main and reinforcing yarnfeeding mechanisms are supported. At the right are shown the usual cop supports 3 with the cops or Supplies of'yarn. A post 5 extending upWard from the framework of the machine usually centrally of the copsupports 3, has mounted thereon, the main elements of the stop motion mechanism from which the rod 6 eXtends downwardly and is-connected in a usual and suitable manner with the driving elements of the machine so that When moved the machine will be stopped. Another post 7, extended upwardly from the'frame work serves to support and position certain of the mechanism as will be clear from the drawing.

Any required number of reinforcing yarns may be supplied as required by the nature and Character of the work. Two such mechanisms are shown for a convenient disclosure of the invention and as they are duplicates throughout excepting in so far as some detailed features of the present invention are concerned, it will be necessary to describe but one of these mechanisms and as each'is similar to that illustrated in the Mayo patent already referred to, it will be uunecessary to describe it in detail.

Theniain yarn as shown, comprises two runs extending. from the cops 4-4 shown in Fig. 1, but` any number of runs may be included in'the main yarn as required. These runs 8 and 9 extend upward from the cops between the usual guide fingers 10 and feeler fingers 11 on the stop motion mechanism and extend through guide eyes on the arms 12Vand extend to the main yarn-feeding mechanism.

This mechanism which is shown in duplicate, comprises a head 13 secured to the post 2 and supportingV at itsend a fixed tubular yarn guide 14: terminating in a tapering nose 15. Through these yarn guides the main yarnruns in succession to the Vneedles of the knitting machine. If however one of the main yarns breaks or runs out, its corresponding feeler finger 11 is released and falls away from the coperating guide. 10 actuating in the well known manner, the rod 6 to stop the machine. The reinforcing yarn of which two runs Vare shown and consequently two reinforcing yarn feeding mechanisms is brought into connection with the main yarn at the re-v quired times under the control of suitable automatic or pattern mechanism in a familiar manner. Inthe construction shown which is that of thev Mayo patent referred to, the run of reinforcing yarn 16 or 17 extends from its supply, (not illustrated), through a guide 18 mounted eccentrically on the tubular rotarycarrier 19 which is journaled concentrically on the main yarn guide 14.` This carrier 19 is provided with a. pinion 20 in mesh with a gear segment 21 supported vand. operated on the head 13. When the reinforcing yarn is to be thrown in, this. gear segment is actuated to carry the yarn guide 18 around the nose 15 and thus wind the end of the reinforcing yarn around the main yarn. At the same time a knottying instrumentality 22 is brought into action and ties a knot in the end of the reinforcing yarn about the main yarn. When the reinforcing yarn is to be cut out, the yarn guide 18 brings the reinforcing yarn into the field of action of a cutting and clamping instrumentality, 23 which severs the yarn and clamps and holds the end extendin g from the guide means. These means for bringing the yarn feeding mechanism into action, tying a knot in the reinforcing yarn about the main yarn and cutting out the main yarn, form in themselves, no part of the present invention and are described in detail in the said Mayo patent.

"it will now be seen that if the automatic or pattern mechanism calls for the introduction of a reinforcing yarn and for any reason the instrumentality concerned fails to secure such an engagement of the end of the reinforcing yarn with the main yarn as tocause the reinforcing yarn to engage and 'ie brought along with the main yarn, imperfect worl 'will result, or, if after the reinforcing yarn has begun feeding in, it fails or becomes broken beforeit is cut out, imperfect work will also result. The present invention provides means for actuating the stop motion mechanism upon the occurrence of either of these events, and a preferred form of mechanism embodying the invention and adapted for use in connection with the type of main and yarn reinforcing mechanism illustrated will now be described.

A spring catch herein shown as a bell era-nk lever, is fulcrumed on the head 13 at 24- and has its longer arm 25 extending outl and seated in a notch in the plate 26 at the front of the head while its shorter arm 27 is pivoted to the link 28. This link in turn is pivoted to a lever 29 fulcrumed at 30 on the post 7. The link 29 is connected at its opposte end-with a rod 31 which actuates the stop motion mechanism in the same manner as it is actuated upon the dropping of one of the feeler fingers 11. A spring 32 connecting the link 28 to the head 13 acts to elevate the longer arm 25 of the catch when released from its notch so that when the catch is released from the notch by the connections described, the rod` 81 will actuate the stop motion mechanism. In the construction illustrated but one catch is employed for both of the reinforcing yarn-feeding mechanisms and it is brought ont of its notch and the stop motion mechanism actuated when either of the reinforcing yarns fails to come into action or breaks supported from dropping thereby, but being so nearly Vertical in this position it creates but little pressure on the yarn. A pin projects laterally from the feeler 38. A latch 36 is fulcrumcd at 37 to the head. The outer end 38 of the latch is hook shaped as shown in Fig. 2 and is located above the pin 35, in such position that When the reinforoing` yarn is fed in, the pin Will just clear the latch if the feeler 33 drops. rl`he opposite end of the latch is beneath the projection of the knot-tying instrumentality `92 so that When the reinforcing yarn is running, the latch Will be held with its outer end elevated in position shown. in Figs. 1 and 2 While a spring 39 connecting the latch to the head tends tomove the free end of the latch downivardly.

The operation will now be readily understood by anyone familiar with this type of ;Varn-fceding inechanisni. `illhen the main Yarn is .running and the reinforcing yarn is out, the yarn guide 18 is in dianietrically opposite position. to that shown in Fig. 1 with the end of the reinforcing yarn claniped in the instruinentality the l'fnottjfing inst1'uIn. -}ntality is elevated; the latch is dranfn downwardly under the influence of the spring 89 and its free end 38 is engaginp` the pin 353 and holding the fecler 3% from falling. "hen the call comes to nisni described is aotuated causing the guide 18 to carry the end of the reinforcing yarn about the main yarn; the lnotvng instrunientality 22 seizes the reinforcinf;` yarn and drops, tying a linot about the main yarn; the instrumentality 22 in dropping, contacts with the end of the lato-h 31 raising its end 82 and releasing the feelerV 33 so that it fests against and issupported by the reinforcing yarn now feeding in.

But if the mechanisin has failed for an;`Y reason to Work and the end of the reinfoi'cing` yarn has not come into engagement With or been tied to the main yarn so as to he fed along' therewith. innnediatelg' the latch is raised, the feeler 33 finding no reinforcingv yarn to support it. drops and Strikes against the catch knocking it out of its notch and so actuating the stop inotio'n mechanism. So also, if the reinforcing Yarn is properly stafrted to feed in With the main yarn and after running for a. time hrezlis or runs out.J the feeler 38 left unsupported Will drop and in a similar' nianner actuate the stop motion 1'n ;\chanisni.

The connections for the lower 'of the two:

reinforcing yarn-fcedinnj mechanisms shown are similar to that already described except that a slight change is made in order to enin the reinforcing yarn, the niechaable the feeler to act upon the single catch :25 alreadyr describecl. For this purpose the lower feeler 33 has its lower end cam shz-ped as at '-10. lever 41 is fulcrumed at +2 on the lower head and has its upper end (lirectlyY behind the free end of lthe catch Q5 and its lower end in the path of the cam shaped end 4:0 of the feeler 33. Henne `;sihen the lower feeler 33 drops upon the failure of its reinforcing' yarn properly to he fed in, or upon the hrealrage or the runningv out the yarn or yarns feeding in, the (rani 40 actino' against the lever 41 Will lrnocl: 013:' the latch and actuate the stop niotion mechanism as before.

11 ring fully descrihed my inventioin What l olain'r as new,l and desii'e to obtain by Letters latcnt is: i I

1. ;i machine of the Character dcscrihed colnprisin in combination, main. yarn-feed' ing niecl'ianisin, reinforcing Yarn-feeding inechanism, means for automatically bringing into action said reinforcing yarn-feeding` nie-chanisin, stop niotion inechanism, and means for actuating said stop motion mechanisin upon the failure of the reinforcing' jiarn to feed in when its feeding meehanisin is brought into action.

ln ai'nachine of the Character desei'ibed comprising in comhiifiatiorL` main yarn-fl'beding,` n'iecl'ninisin, i'einforcing' yarn-feedi'ig mechanisni, means for automaticallv bringing into action said reinforcing Vom-feeding mechanisnii'. stop motion nieehanisni, and means for actuating said stop niotion niechanisin upon the failure of the,reinforcing yarn to feed in When its feedinp,` mechanism is brought into action or upon. the failure of the reinforcinz yarn While being fed in.

3. A machine of the Character described, coniprising in combination, main Yaro-feeding` niecl'ianisin? reinforcing yarn-feeding inecha iszn, means for autoi'natically causing the reinforcing yarn to engage and he tied to the main yarn to feed along; there- Y'vith, stop inotion niechanism, means .for actuating' said stop motion inechanlsm upon the failure of the reinforcing Yarn to eueage and he tie:` to and fed along With the main yarn.

ll. A machine of the character described, coinprising in combination, main yarn-feeding mechanism,v reinforcing yarn-feeding niechanisim, means for automatically causing` the reinforcing yarn to engage and be tied to the main yarn to feed along.,` therewith, stop inotion niechanisin, means for actuating said stop motion inechanis'm upon i the fallure of the reinforclng yarn to engage and hc tied to and feed along With the main yarn or upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn While being fed in.

5. A machine of the Character described, comprising in combination, main yarn-feeding mechanisin, reinforcing yarn-feeding I ing the reinforcing yarn to engage the mechanism, means for automatically causmain yarn to feed along therewith,l stop motion mechanism, means for actuating said stop motion mechanism upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn to engage and feed along With the main yarn.

6. A machine of the Character described,

ing mechanism, reinforcing yarn-feeding mechanism, means for automatically causing the reinforcing yarn to engage the main yarn and be fed along therewith, stop motion mechanism, a movable feeler supported out 'of actuating position by the reinforcing yarn When feeding, means actuated by the feeler When moved intoV actuating position to effect the voperation of the stop motion mechanism, and means to hold the feeler out of actuating position until the reinforcing yarn is brought into position to engage the main yarn and thereupon to' release the feeler Whereby upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn properly to engage the main yarn and beV fed along therewith or upon subsequent failure of the 1`-einforCing yarn, the feeler will bemoved into actuating position.

8.A A machine of the Character described Comprising in combination, main yarn-feeding mechanism, reinforcing yarn-feeding mechanism, means for automatically causing the reinforcing yarn to engage the main yarn and be fecl along therewith, stop motion mechanism, a movable feeler supported out of actuating position by the reinforci'ng yarn When feeding, means actuated by the feeler When moved into actuating position to effect the operation of the stop motion mechanism, and means to hold the feeler out of actuating position until the reinforcing yarn is brought into position to engage the main yarn and thereupon. to release the feeler Whereby upon the failure of the reinforcingl yarn properly to engage the main yarn and be fed along therewith, the feeler Will be moved into actuating position.

9. A machine of the Character described -Comprising a main yarn-feeding mechanism,

a reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism, means for automatically causing the reinforcing yarn to engage the mainyarn to feed along therewith, stop motion mechanism, a pivotally mounted feeler supported from dropping by the reinforcing yarn When feeding and acting When dropped to actuate the stop motion mechanism, a latch to engage the feeler and support it from dropping, and means acting to disengage the latCh from the feeler when the reinforcing yarn is brought into position to e'ngage the main yarn Whereby unless thereinforcing yarn has properly engaged the main yarn, the feeler ldrops and actuates the stop motion mechanism. w

10. A machine of the Character described Comprising a main yarn-feeding inechanism, a reinforcing yarn feeding inechanism, means for automatically Causing the reinforcing yarn Vto engage the main yarn to feed along therewith, stop motion mechanism,oa pivotally inounted feeler supported from dropping by the reinforcing yarn When feeding and acting When dropped to actuate the stop motion mechanism, a latch to engag'e the feeler and support it from dropping, and means acting to disengage the latch ing yarn is brought into Vposition to engage the main yarn Whereby unless the reinforcing yarn has properly engaged the main yarn, or upon subsequent failure of the reinforcing yarn, the feeler drops and actuates the stop motion mechanism. i

11. A machine of the Character described Comprising in combination, main yarn feeding mechanism, reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism, means for automatically bringing into action said reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism, stopV motion mechanism, normally inactive means for actuating said stop motion mechanism, and means for rendering said actuating means active upon the coming into action ofV said reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism to Cause said actuatingr means to actuate the stop motion mechanism upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn to feed in.

12.' A machine of the Character described, comprising in combination, main yarn feeding mechanism, reinforeing yarn feeding mechanismymeans for automatically bringing into action said reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism, stop motion mechanism, normally inactive means for actuating said stop motion mechanism, and means for renderingy said actuating means active upon the coming into action of said reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism to Cause said actuating means to actuate the stop motion mechanism upon the failure bfkthe reinforcing yarn to feed' in, or upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn While'being fed in.

13. A machine'of the Character described, comprising in combination, main yarn feeding mechanism, reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism, means for automatically Causing the reinforcing yarn to engage and be tied to the main yarn to feed along therefrom the feeler when the reinforo' ieo With, stop motion mechanism, normally in active means for actuating said stop motion mechanism, and means for rendering said actuating` means active upon the coming into action' of said i'einforcing yarn feeding mechanism to cause said actuating' means to actuate the stop motion mechanism upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn to engage and be tied to and fed along With the main yal'n.

14;. A machine of the Character described, compi'ising in combination, main yarn feeding` mechanism, reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism, means for automatically causing the reinforcing` yarn to engage and be tied to the main yarn to feed along there- With, stop motion mechanism, normally inactive means for actuating said stop motion mechanism, and means for rendering said actimting` means active upon the coming into action of said rcinfoi'cing yai'n feeding mechanism to cause said actuating means to actuate the stop motion mechanism upon the failui'e of the reinforcing yarn to engage and be tied to and fed along With the main yarn, oI' upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn While being fed in.

15. A machine of the Character described, comprising in combination, main yarn feeding mechanism, reinforcing yarn feedng mechanism, means for automatically causing the reinforcing yarn to eng'age the main yai'n to feed along therewith, stop motion mechanism, normally inactive means for actuating said stop motion mechanism, and means for rendering said actuating means active upon the coming into action of said reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism to cause said actuating means to actuate the stop motion mechanism upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn to engage and feed along With the main yarn.

16. A machine of the Character desci'ibed, comprising in combination, main yarn feeding mechanism, reinforcing yarn feeding mechanism, means for automatically causing the reinforcing yarn to engage the main yarn to feed along' thei'evvith, stop motion mechanism, normally inactive means for actuating said stop motion mechanism, and means for rendering said actuating means active upon the coming into action of said reinforcing yarn feeding` mechanism toV cause said actuating means to actuate the stop motion mechanism upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn to engage and feed along` With the main yarn, or upon the failure of the reinforcing yarn While being fed in.

In testimony Whei'eof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

EDISON E. RANDALLo Vitnesses HENRY O. WANGERIN, LERoY ANDERSON.

Copes of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0. 

